ZESCO game for Asec Mimosa
By VIOLET TEMBO ASEC Mimosa Football Club are giants in Africa football but we have been sharpened by the technical bench to take them on, Zambia’s 2018 CAF Champions’ League campaigners ZESCO United Football Club Captain Jacob Banda has said.
Speaking in a pre- match press conference in Ndola yesterday, Banda said the Ivorian’s could not be compared to JKU FC from Zanzibar which Zesco walloped 7-0 on aggregate. Banda explained that the Zesco United camp was alive to the fact that they needed to be careful in defence and midfield but attempt to utilize the opportunities that will be created. He assured soccer fans that the club was determined to obtain results at home and secure the club a place in the CAF group stages. “We are knowledgeable of how Asec Mimosa play. We cannot compare them to the JKU FC. Asec is much more advanced but we have prepared well .We will be more careful in defence and midfield and the boys know that we have to utilise every chance,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zesco FC Coach Tenant Chembo disclosed that the club is ready to deliver a positive result to achieve their target of reaching the group stage.
“The team is positive and ready to deliver. Asec are strong campaigners and we are alive that we have to give the game the respect it deserves but am expecting a positive results.
“Playing home and away are two different tactical approaches to the game. But it is better we do the business at home .It is a competition and we have to qualify,” he said. Chembo pointed out that for any club to succeed in a competition it took hard work of the team to deliver the objective set.
And speaking at the same briefing Asec Mimosa coach Siaka Traore Gigi noted that despite his side losing 3-1 to ZESCO in the 2016 edition, each game had its own and different approaches.
Gigi expressed confidence that Asec Mimosa would beat ZESCO at home to have a chance of progressing to the group stage.
“This is a different approach, different philosophy of the game and definitely we are here with open minds to ensure that we get results out of this game. “What am emphasizing is that we are here in Zambia on an assignment to obtain positive results. This tie has a first and second leg and our target is to qualify to the group stage” Gigi said.